Two Rivers Mansion is a historical landmark in Nashville, Tennessee. We spoke with the people behind this iconic house about preserving its legacy.
In this age of tearing down history, tell us about your success.
The Friends of Two Rivers started as “The Friends of Two Rivers Mansion” with a focus on saving Two Rivers Mansion. Then Nashville Metro Council Member for District 15, Phil Claiborne, learned about the dire need for the mansion to be saved as the exterior of it was falling into disrepair.
He founded the organization and worked with the Mayor and Council to secure $1.2 million for the initial renovation of the mansion. This was all the more relevant and meaningful to Nashville as it was when Nashville’s extraordinary growth was beginning and historic places were being torn down to make way for redevelopment.
The community’s interest in seeing the mansion restored and attendance at events afterwards showed the passion for saving places like this. We have expanded events, educational programming, and overall use of the mansion, the original 1802 House, and surrounding 14-acres with many events, weddings, corporate events, and more.
This recent $4.5 million total renovation was because of water damage that occurred when parts of the gutter system failed.
It speaks volumes that Metro Nashville government and Parks Department are investing in preserving this wonderful, foundational piece of Nashville’s history. The future is bright as we continue our work.
What has been the journey, the milestones?
The original $1.2 million renovation was certainly a major milestone of saving the mansion at a time when plans were being made to board the structure up.The community events that followed were significant milestones because the property hadn’t seen that kind of activity in decades.
Now, with this $4.5 million renovation concluding, we are poised for future milestones as we are ready with full design and construction documents to build a 250-person event center behind the mansion to expand our events and support further preservation of the mansion as a museum and educational center.
Between the 1802 House and 1859 Two Rivers Mansion, it tells a great deal of history about Nashville, plantation life, the authentic stories of indigenous people who were there prior, and enslaved people who built and managed the mansion, and so much more. We want this to be a place where both locals and visitors can come to experience the grandeur of Two Rivers and learn about the history of the three generations of the McGavock family that made it their home.
As the mansion underwent this recent renovation, a major milestone was evolving into The Friends of Two Rivers, dropping “Mansion” from the organization’s name as we added another historic property along the Stones River, Stone Hall. Built in 1918, it too tells a fascinating story about the Cantrell family who lived there and the era around it.
It sits at the precipice of Ravenwood Park, a new regional park for the eastern side of Davidson County. Its accompanying small three-story cabin, Eversong, sits on the bluff of Stones River.
What are the future goals?
The Two Rivers Master Plan helps guide our efforts. As mentioned above, a 250-event center is on the horizon and it was designed as a carriage house, so it will be architecturally complementary to the site. We are expanding our educational programming and are furthering the Nashville history experience for guests.
Our long term opportunities are potentially to be a site of a Nashville History Center, which the city is pursuing via a feasibility study. We also have an aspirational goal and potential opportunity to add another property in the future along the Cumberland River, the Lockmaster’s House at Lock Two Park. It tells the story of the lock system that existed managing riverboat traffic before Percy Priest Dam was built.
Any advice on fundraising for such a big legacy project?
The good news here is that Two Rivers Mansion is a Metro Nashville owned property, so the funding came from the city. We have searched for Federal and State sources unsuccessfully for grants or budgeting dollars, so Metro Nashville has thankfully stepped up in a big way.
What advice do you have for other historic properties?
It’s important to activate historic properties. Preservation is critical, but activation is also equally important to drive interest, passion, and opportunity to engage the community and further your mission of restoration, protection, preservation, and promotion.
What is one of the unique characteristics of the Mansion? Something that truly sets it apart from other places.
Two Rivers Mansion is one of the earliest and best preserved of the early Italianate houses in Middle Tennessee and was part of an 1100-acre plantation. It served as a private residence for three generations of one family from the 1850s until 1965 when the last widow died.
Tell me about your other allied properties?
Stone Hall is a 1918 colonial style home on the bluff of Stones River. If the home had been at the current location in the 1800s, the view would have included Andrew Jackson’s racetrack, store and tavern.
What do you wish people could know more about with 2 Rivers Mansion?
Two Rivers Mansion is a lasting reminder of the union of two of the most influential families in 1800 Nashville…the Hardings and the McGavocks.
History is best remembered with storytelling- how are you doing this?
Our historic tours are told in a chronological manner with stories related to the property, the mansion, and the people who lived there.
How do you want to get families and the younger generation involved in history?
By expanding our offerings for a variety of specialty tours and interactive camps and special activities days
